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Okie dokie: I'll trundle down to Phoenix where the dreilling is, cameras in hand, and take some high-res snaps using the macro lenses and my tripod. As a newcomer to your world, I'm terribly flattered that so many accomplished historians are willing to help out in identifying this old working girl. Of course we always wonder about the tales of high adventure that vintage firearms might tell, but this one might have spent its life as a "brother-in-law" loaner gun in the country house of a well-off businessman until bundled home by a kleptocratic Corporal on occupation duty. R
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Richard,
If it was a Corporal that brought it home, I wouldn't call him "kleptocratic". Most of the ones that didn't wind up with the allies were destroyed,run over by tanks, burned, or thrown into a river. Many were hidden and destroyed by the elements( see "A Drilling Risen From the Grave", in the DER WAFFENSCHMIED featuring drillings.). The only reason we have most of them to use and study is that someone did bring them home,and they are to be thanked.
MikeComment
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Dreilling Proofs
/Users/richardvenola/Desktop/Proofs of "Mystery" Dreilling.JPG
My reloader was kind enough to launch this snap, all in the interests of lighting the candle of knowledge. Hope it is an educational road map.
/Users/richardvenola/Downloads/b bottom proof marks.JPGComment
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Richard,
I am interested in the marks, but am too dumb to "bring them up", maybe you or someone else could help.
MikeComment
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Richard,
You'll need to post a link to where the picture is located in order for us to see it. Your
/Users/richardvenola/Downloads/b bottom proof marks.JPG appears to be a cut and paste of where the files are located in either your or someone else's "User Directory" (on your or someone else's computer).
Photobucket is a rather popular site for storing and linking others to a picture library. Others may be using another but Photobucket is what I have been using, just saying.
BüchsemannComment
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Odd. I was able to drag and paste previous photos without a problem. ??? Will fuss with it. RComment
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Gentlemen: I'm just short of hair-pulling, and can't seem to attach an image. It keeps asking for a URL. This didn't happen before. Did the webmaster change something or did I end up in a different universe? Any way, my email is richard.venola@gmail.com. If one of you would like to examine the proofs, send me a query and I'll attach it for your study. Thanks, RichardComment
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Reeb proofs, 297
Maybe this will work.Comment
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Richard,
Thought I'd let you know that it did ...
BüchsemannComment
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At least the barrels of your drilling came from Suhl. as they were forged by the Schilling forge, still existing as a museum, as indicated by the S in hexagon stamp. The "Schillingschmiede" supplied most of the Suhl guntrade with forgings. The gun was proofed according to the 1893 - 1912 proof rules for a rifle barrel service charge of 4.5 gramm = 69.4 gr of M71 service blackpowder and a 19 gramm = 293 gr lead bullet. The bore (not rifling or bullet) diameter is given by the gauge number (lead balls to a British pound) 62.78, so the bore diameter at the proofhouse was between 10.67 and 10.91 mm = .420 and .430". The crown/W stamp indicates the shot barrels being choke-bored.Comment
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Richard,
Axel's comments pretty much show that neither Belgium nor Zella-Mehlis was the source of your drilling. Meffert was located in Suhl,and seemed to mostly supply working grade guns to the trade, with little adornment.This doesn't mean that Meffert made the drilling for Reeb, but it is certainly possible. With a bore diameter of .420-.430", it would bee interesting to know the groove diameter.
MikeComment
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Thanks! My reloader slugged the chamber and a smidge of rifling and said .446. This weekend I went to the PHX gunshow but all the optics were brand new, so my hunt for an old low-power European optic and 26mm rings to match continues...Comment
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Richard,
Thats good,bullets for 11.15x60R or 44-77 Remington will work fine(.446-.448"), thats a lot better than having to have new mold blocks made.
MikeComment
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Dear Mike: Yes, indeed. Bob is casting .370-grainers that would make von Lettow-Vorbeck proud. My next task is to find some Russian girl to come over and have a male child with me so I can trade it for an old scope. Where would you go for a pre-war 1.5-2.5 with or without rings. Rings being a separate quest...?Comment
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Richard,
To find a prewar scope is going to be a "catch as catch can" situation, and may be a "lost cause".You may try Ebay,Egun.de,Auction Arms, Guns America,etc. Old gunshops may be another source, but would require calling each one. I wouldn't worry too much about it actually being prewar. Something like an old postwar Hensoldt may meet your needs. Rings can be had from EAW or ERA, but don't expect to be able to buy a set to screw on. NECG has both company's products and may be able to order what you need. You could just let them mount the scope for you.
MikeComment
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